Nokia Booklet 3g Netbook Coming Soon, Looking Awesome

If Apple does release a Tablet PC, fanboys would do well to thank Nokia, because the Finland handset maker was one of the first to come up with Mobile Internet Devices, or MIDs. Now they’re back in the realm of portable computing with the Booklet 3G, a 10-inch, 2.75 lb. Intel Atom-powered netbook that will most likely run Windows 7. As its name implies, the Booklet 3G has built-in 3G wireless connectivity. Further separating the netbook from the bajillion other flavors on the market is its aluminum chassis and its “HD-ready” screen, along with an HDMI port and A-GPS navigation. Sweet.

I wish Nokia would add HSDPA connectivity as well. Portable USB modems – the ones as small as a flash drive – are becoming popular here in the Philippines, but the 3G speeds suck donkey dong, with a very theoretical maximum speed of 384 Kbps. Good thing the Booklet 3G also has WiFi. What I find most interesting about this netbook is the 12-hour battery life. 12 hours! If that is indeed true, then we should thank Intel for coming up with the Atom. Unless of course it turns out that the netbook only lasts an hour when it’s playing HD content.

Please let it be below $400 please please please. With that kind of battery life plus an HD-capable processor I’ll gladly take back all my netbook-bashing and buy one for myself.